Bounty Night...sigh.

So, my first bounty night didn't go so well.


I kind of figured it wouldn't, and I'm totally okay with that. I've been getting less than eight hours of sleep every night, and its been physically exhausting to try to keep up with everything I have going on. I had a test this morning, and trying to study for logic and play poker proves to be difficult.

Anyone who tells you that poker is not a physical game is effing lying to you. It's impossible to play your best when you are exhausted, hungry, thirsty, sick, or in any other way, shape, or form you are not physically well. Poker is also a mental game, naturally. You need to be mentally sharp to pick up on tells, do math for pot odds and what to bet, and psychologically out play your opponents. If anything, either mental or physical is not at its best, your whole game is off. And, either one of these can affect the other.


I leaned back in my chair to put my textbook on the table behind me, and I almost fell backwards out of my chair. I hit my arm really hard on the table, and I'm lucky that Kirk was there to make sure I didn't hit my head on the table. It was actually a scary moment. I've passed out before (not alcohol induced,) and it's scary. I felt like I almost passed out, not just fell. I've been pushing myself way too much, and I'm seeing the effects of that.


Unfortunately, I was definitely feeling the negative affects of being physically exhausted.

I started the night slowly. I wasn't getting a lot of hands that I could really do anything with, and the only major hand I won, I don't even remember what I had. I won a few smaller pots, and caused a little bit of controversy with my all-in move.


After the break, I was sitting a bit short-stacked. I was dealt pocket jacks. Earl and I were the only ones to see the flop. The flop came Ace-6-8. I was concerned Earl had the Ace, but when he checked, I checked also. The turn brought another Ace. I had the feeling that Earl didn't have an Ace, so I pushed all-in. After considering the cards and how I played, Earl figured I didn't have an Ace. Turning over the cards revealed that he had pocket Kings. Ouch.

So, I promptly shouted "Re-buy!" Everybody laughed, and Kirk yelled back "Not after the break!" So I shouted "Just kidding!!!" and laughed. Because it was funny. Hee hee hee. :)

I was out. But, I'm okay with that move. Earl had the better hand, and because he's a more experienced player, (and more solid,) he got the correct read, knowing I didn't have an Ace, and had the better hand. I'm totally fine with how that went. I needed to study, anyway.

The thing that people don't understand is that advice is only helpful when it's positive. When I get up from the table and walk by and hear you criticize the way that I play, I'm going to get pissed off. Especially because I know I'm not a very strong player. I'm here to get better. I'm here to learn to play poker better. I'm here to improve my skills. And if you're a better, stronger, more solid player than I am, you should  instruct, rather than criticize. (Ahem.) I digress.


I played in a second-chance sit n go, and again lost with pocket jacks. Phil knocked out both me and Will out with a straight. And I swear, the next time someone tells me that I need to push pre-flop with jacks, I will freak the eff out. I KNOW. I KNOW I SHOULD PUSH PRE-FLOP WITH JACKS, OKAY?!?!

I was tired and cranky. And I got sick of everybody having an opinion on how I should play.

There were multiple opinions that night about how I should play pocket jacks. I had at least 10 people tell me that next time, I need to push pre-flop. Okay. I will next time, and if I bust you out of the tournament or dwindle your chip stack, I don't want to hear it.


I'm pretty sure I bombed my test, too. Damn it.